Reliquary figure (muzidi)
Bembe
Description
(African Art and the Shape of Time; August 18, 2012-February 3, 2013)
This muzidi reliquary figure formerly anchored the soul and housed the material remains of a deceased Bembe ancestor, providing a way for the dead to continue to dwell within and to play an active role in their communities. Though depicting a specific individual, the artist has given less emphasis to his transitory appearance in life and more emphasis to his permanent, spiritual appearance. Because death is considered only a stage in an endless cycling of states, the ancestor is presented as eternally active; poised and alert, he gestures skyward and to the horizon in reference to the cycling of time in relation to the movement of the sun.
Subject Matter:
Muzidi are depictions of ancestral spirits. Once properly activated, they protect their descendants from general misfortune and illness. Like minkisi, they accomplish this by connecting beings from different points of existence. Although they are inhabited by specific ancestors, their form does not represent them physically. Muzidi are deactivated when the ancestor spirit leaves it, reverted back to a inanimate object.
This muzidi was included in UMMA's exhibition, Wish You Were Here (August 2021–August 2022), through which UMMA curators and researchers investigated a selection of cultural works in the collection with an eye to understanding their provenance and best practices for their ethical care. Through CT-scan analysis, it was determined that the work does not include human bones; however, the UMMA team continues to pursue research concerning best practices for our stewardship of this object according to the beliefs and wishes of its originating community(ies).
Physical Description:
Figure of a human composed of blue and red cloth stretched around a split cane framework. The figure is in a seated position with arms outstretched. The torso and neck are cylindrical and elongated.
Usage Rights:
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